Ellen DeGeneres Replacing Paula Abdul On American Idol

 

Fox has confirmed that Ellen DeGeneres, 51, will be replacing Paula Abdul as the fourth judge on American Idol this season.

A statement released by Fox says:

“DeGeneres will sit alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi and offer her own unique perspective to the contestants throughout the competition.”

Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller added to the statement:

“Ellen has been a fan of the show for many years, and her love of music and understanding of the American public will bring a unique human touch to our judging panel.”

DeGeneres will take her seat after the audition rounds, which have featured big names of celebrity guest judges like Shania Twain, Mary J. Blige, Victoria Beckham, Joe Jonas and Kristin Chenoweth.

At a taping of her talk show on Wednesday Ellen said:

“I’m going to have a day job and a night job.  This is so exciting for me.”

During the taping for Thursday’s show, she reveals the deal has been in the works for the last couple of weeks:

“I’ve been dying to tell everyone.  It’s just been so hard to keep it a secret and we just finally got the OK and I’m so excited. It is going to be so much fun.”

“I have not missed one episode.”

“Hopefully I’m the people’s point of view because I’m just like you.  I sit at home and I watch it. … I’m not looking at it in a critical way from the producer’s mind. I’m looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person.”

In early August, and just before the start of American Idol’s ninth season, Paula Abdul announced via Twitter that she would not be returning.

The new season of American Idol starts in January.

photo: Bauer Griffin